WASHINGTON, DC - The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) congratulates Margaret Stock for being named one of the 2013 MacArthur Foundation's Fellows due to her immigration law efforts on behalf of veterans and their families.

"I'm delighted that the MacArthur Foundation is recognizing Margaret's efforts in the immigration and national security area. Her positive impact on the lives of thousands cannot be overstated," said AILA President Doug Stump upon hearing the news. He continued, "These are called "genius grants" for a reason and she has brought her formidable intellect, unrelenting drive, and steadfast compassion to an area of immigration law that often threatens to split apart soldiers' families."

In the grant announcement, the Foundation noted three programs she spearheaded, among them her creation and championship of the AILA Military Assistance Program (MAP), which matches AILA members volunteers with military service members who are deployed leaving family members behind in tenuous or uncertain immigration status.

Mr. Stump noted, "Without Margaret's inspiration for the program, and her dedication to training and mentoring a nationwide cadre of 355 immigration lawyer volunteers since 2008, the AILA MAP program would not exist. Margaret exemplifies the spirit of giving back to the community to which lawyers must aspire, and on behalf of the hundreds of service members and their families who have been helped by the program, we express our congratulations on this well-deserved award."

The 2013 grants come with a $625,000 award for the recipients to use as they choose. The grant announcement emphasizes "her written scholarship, and her contributions to policy debates," all of which allow Ms. Stock to challenge "our complex immigration laws in order to provide more humane and rational policies that will also serve American national security interests."

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The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.